ZESCO United Football Club Team Ya Ziko
Football is one of the biggest and richest sports brands in the world. The game once perceived as a social activity has over the years been transformed into a billion-dollar business.
In recent years the game has arguably become the greatest escape route from poverty for many young people with unquestionable talent on the pitch.
The fortunes that one can generate or reap from the sport is evident from many players with humble beginnings who have gone on to become some of the richest and most powerful men in the world.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar da Silva Santos are some the classic success stories to have emerged from the game.
The classic-rags-to-riches story is well crafted in the dusty villages of Africa where the sport is largely viewed as a sure way out of poverty for many young gifted boys and their families.
Africa currently has the likes of Sadio Mane, Yaya Toure and Mo Salah, as shining examples of those are making it big from the game.
However, the huge financial incentives currently associated with the game have presented new concerns to football administrators and corporate sponsors.
The trappings that often come with fame have had detrimental effects on past and current players who have ended-up penniless after retiring from the sport.
The lack of financial discipline to invest wisely has seen players who had shown so much on the pitch and become instant millionaires turn into beggars in retirement.
ZESCO United Football Club is one of the biggest and successful teams in Zambia and an emerging continental giant. The club is also one of the most professionally run institutions in Africa.
An employer of some of the finest and emerging talents on the continent, the club has in recent years made it a priority to expose its players to financial literacy awareness.
ZESCO United management has taken advantage of its corporate partnership with Atlas Mara Bank to sensitize its players on the value of investing prudently for a better tomorrow.
Today ZESCO United in partnership with Atlasmara held a financial literacy training at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium targeting club players.
“Firstly, we would like to thank Atlasmara for extending this gesture to impart some knowledge in our players with regards to how to financially manage their resources.
“As role models and ambassadors of our society, we would like you to pay particular attention to this financial session where they are going to share with you information on how you can manage your money from ZESCO United.
“This is a great gesture from Atlasmara which should result in several success stories. We hope to see tangible and meaningful results from this,” ZESCO United Football Club Executive Member, Timothy Bowa said.
Meanwhile Atlasmara Regional Marketing Manager, Shadreck Goma has urged ZESCO United players to invest prudently before retiring from the game.
“Football players are role models to many people especially in their communities. As a bank we do realize that they form part of the community. As such it is crucial for them to make right choices in terms of investments.
“We have seen what has come out of those who have invested wisely after retirement and we have also seen what has happened to those who didn’t invest prudently in their playing days.As a Bank we wanted to use this financial literacy week to ensure that we share knowledge with our footballers so that they can make wise choices.”
And speaking on behalf of the players, ZESCO United defender Adrian Chama thanked the Bank for taking time to share information on financial management.
“I would like to thank Atlasmara for speaking to us today. This information goes a long way in helping us invest wisely. Many a times we find ourselves in possession of money, but one only sees the need to invest when we are broke. I think this training has come at the right time.”
Author: Desmond Katongo
